Criminal Defense

Facing prosecution or being involved in a criminal investigation is a stressful situation. The consequences can affect your family, your career, and your reputation. This makes it especially critical to enlist a knowledgeable attorney as soon as you become aware that you may need to fight charges related to a sex crime, drug possession, assault, or another offense. At the Cardoso Law, PLLC, Pensacola criminal defense lawyer Ryan M. Cardoso provides compassionate and vigorous representation to people throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

At Cardoso Law, PLLC, we take care to treat each person who comes to us with the diligent attention that he or she deserves. Your case is not just a number to us, and Ryan personally works closely with each client throughout the process. He takes pride in keeping the people whom he serves informed about the status of their proceedings, and he prioritizes obtaining winning results. Ryan represents people who are charged with drug offenses, theft crimes, assault and battery, domestic violence, sex crimes, probation violations, and child abuse, among other offenses.

When you are facing a criminal charge, the prosecution has the burden of proving each element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. This is an extremely high standard for the prosecution to meet, and in many cases a criminal defense attorney can argue persuasively that one or more of the elements is not met. For example, many white collar crimes contain a specific intent element. If the defendant did not have the special mental state required by the definition of the crime, the prosecution cannot sustain the charge.

Also, procedural rules governing when the police can stop and search you or your property can play a critical role in a defense. It is important to bear in mind the difference between investigative stops and arrests. An investigative stop can only happen when the police have developed a reasonable suspicion that a crime is taking place. This means that a police officer must have a factual foundation resting on the circumstances that he or she observed, according to the way in which the police officer interpreted them and in light of his or her knowledge and experience.

To make a formal arrest, by contrast, the police must have probable cause to believe that a citizen has broken a law. Probable cause exists when the circumstances and facts available to the officer are supported by reasonably trustworthy information. They must be sufficient by themselves to justify a reasonable person in believing that a crime is occurring or about to occur.

The rules on searches and seizures are based on the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which contains other protections for criminal defendants as well. For example, the Fifth Amendment establishes the requirement of due process in all criminal proceedings, as well as the right against self-incrimination. This means that you cannot be forced to provide testimony that would implicate you in having committed a crime. You also cannot be charged more than once for the same crime, which would violate a principle known as Double Jeopardy. However, applying these rules can be very complex, and enlisting an attorney familiar with their nuances is vital in asserting your rights to the fullest extent.

If you are facing charges or believe that you may be facing charges soon, it is critical that you speak to a lawyer. Pensacola criminal defense attorney Ryan M. Cardoso is ready to guide you through the process from start to finish. He serves residents of Pensacola, Cantonment, Century, Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, Navarre, Pace, and other communities throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties who need an attorney to fight charges of DUI, property crimes, drug offenses, and more. Call us at (850) 466-2073 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.